Digital Accessibility: Overcoming the Challenges of Managing Grey Literature in Jamaica: The Case of the University of the West Indies Mona Library

Abstract

Grey literature is of inestimable value, with the potential for significant contributions to further inquiry and practice especially in academia and national development. Researchers, students, lecturers and scientists, depend on these resources which are often the main sources of indigenous and firsthand information. The challenge is retrieval, since they lack meaningful bibliographic control. They are usually not peer-reviewed and sometimes are of poor quality because they often originate from technocrats, scholars and scientists in various fields. A 2019 survey done in Jamaica with librarians from the Scientific and Technical Information Network (STIN) reveals the low status accorded to grey literature. Participants indicated that there is no active thrust towards advocacy and promotion. However, they recognize their importance and would willingly assist in organizing them. Digitization and archiving in repositories allow for greater accessibility to grey literature in academia. This paper examined the value of grey literature and presented digital accessibility as an infrastructure in overcoming associated challenges. Digitization's value is seen in the regeneration of archiving, the increase in the use of non-circulating resources in special collections such as theses and dissertations, and in the preservation of collections. Digitization offers an online presence which raises awareness of existing collections and builds the image of academic institutions. This paper presents some best practices used in digitization, and key steps in the digitization process. The paper is qualitative and utilizes archival study to showcase the efforts of The University of the West Indies (The UWI) Mona Library in using digital technology to manage grey literature and promote their special collections. The authors concluded that through digitization this Library can act as a driver to galvanize other information units to effect greater bibliographic control. Once these valuable collections become accessible, they can be positioned to contribute to national and international development.

Library services and facilities in higher education institutions during coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Pakistan

“…At the starting time of lockdown, it was difficult for students and faculty members to shift online academic activities [ 49 , 103 ], as it was reported in developing countries that most of the material was in hard form and it takes time to be shifted online [ 104 , 105 ]. Hence, the digitalization of library materials and online library services had been started after the closure of higher education institutions [ 59 , 61 , 106 ]. Furthermore, the study findings are similar to the findings of Jin [ 25 ], Perkins [ 107 ] and Weyant [ 79 ].…”

“…After shifting educational activities to online mode [ 18 ], students from rural and urban areas equally benefitted from the online libraries [ 50 , 59 , 60 ]. It is also revealed that electronic modes are equally available to the students, readers and scholars [ 61 ]. These adequate provision of services and facilities were due to modern technology in the times of pandemic [ 12 , 13 , 62 ].…”

Steady ship: Digital, online, and e-libraries (1971–2020)

“…Similarly, the stud findings show that e-libraries provide online information through digital resources including audio, video, e-books, e-journals, reports, and CD/DVD 1,[35][36][37] . The study findings of Robinson et al 38 assert the digital accessibility and managing the challenges of grey literature in Jamaica. In the same way, Ruschoff 39 reveals the digital environment and challenges to access electronic resources through bibliographic techniques.…”

Barriers and facilitators of implementing an information system for health grey literature in Iran: Experts’ views and perspectives

“…The value of grey literature to national development is inestimable. It is therefore imperative that they should be readily available and accessible through a powerful independent system (Robinson et al, 2020).…”